Feed pump



1954 H. A. SAVAGE 3,144,963

FEED PUMP Filed Nov. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u 2.0 \9 I7 I Z L F\G.l

2o INVENTOR.

HARRY A. SAVAG E Aug. 18, 1964 H. A. SAVAGE FEED PUMP Filed NOV. 15 19622 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HARRY ASAVAGE United States Patent 3,144,963 FEED PUMP Harry A. Savage,7361 SW. 9th St., Miami, Fla., assignor of fifty percent to Donald W.Barlow, Miami, Fla. Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 238,332 3 Claims. (Cl.222-66) This invention relates to feed pumps and is more particularlydirected to a feed pump for feeding metered quantities of one liquidinto another which pump cannot lose its prime at any time.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a feed pumpdevice whose prime cannot be lost by lack of fluid but will retainsutficient fluid in the system to keep the prime until more fluid isadded thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a feed pump devicewith an inlet valve controlled by a float wherein the original primingis easily obtained yet cannot be lost when once procured.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a feed pumpwhich is capable of feeding minute, but accurate quantities of a liquidinto a second liquid.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a feedpump device with highly accurately controlled feed rates.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, with the understanding, however, that the inventionis not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of thedrawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes ormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a feed pump device embodying myinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2showing the intake valve in its closed position at the end of thesuction stroke of the piston or beginning of the compression stroke.

FIGURE 4 is a similar view with the piston at its compression stage andfluid being discharged by the feed pump.

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing the intake valve open with the pistonat its suction stage.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designatesimilar parts throughout the several views, the number It) refers to afeed pump constructed in accordance with my invention and consisting ofa fluid tank 11 mounted on a stand 12 having floor engaging legs 13.Also mounted on the stand 12 is a motor 14 having its motor shaft 15extend vertically to below the stand 12 with a cam plate 16 secured tothe end of the shaft 15. The cam plate 16 engages the free end of apiston 17 on which is mounted a collar 18 for retaining a coil spring19. The coil spring 19 encircles the piston 17 and extends between thecollar 18 and a pump block 20 mounted on the lower surface of the stand12 below the tank 11, the coil spring urging the piston 17 in adirection away from the pump block 20 and toward the cam plate 16. i

The inner end of the piston 17 is slidably positioned in a cylinder 21formed in the pump block 20. The cylinder 21 is connected to a fluidpassageway 22 which communicates with a valve chamber 23. The wallforming the chamber 23 is threaded at its upper portion as at 24 forreceiving a threaded valve plug 25 which is prot 3,144,963 Patented Aug.18, 1964 vided with a fluid passageway 26 communicating with the valvechamber 23. The valve plug 25 secures the tank 11 in position on thestand 12 in a liquid tight connection by means of a peripheral shoulder27 at the upper part of the plug 25 which engages a bottom wall 28 ofthe tank 11 at an opening 34 in the tank 11. A second peripheralshoulder 29 at the bottom portion of the plug 25 receives a seal such asan O-ring 30 for hearing against a shoulder 31 in the valve block 20 toseal the chamber 23. The plug 25 is provided with a peripheral slot 32in proximity of the shoulder 27 for receiving an O-ring seal 33 toprevent the leakage of any liquid through the opening 34 between theplug 25 and the bottom wall 28 of the tank 11.

Extending along the fluid passageway 26 of the valve plug 25 is a valverod 35 one end of which is fastened to a float 36 positioned in the tank11. The other end of the valve rod 35 is fastened to a valve support 37secured to a valve 40. The valve 40 is provided with an O-ring seal 41which engages a valve seat 42 formed at the end of the valve plug 25.The valve rod 35 is of such length to permit the valve 40 to open asshown by FIGURE 5 when the float 36 engages the top portion of the valveplug 25.

The valve chamber 23 is provided with an outlet passageway 43 whichcommunicates with an outlet chamber 44. The outer end of the wallsforming the chamber 44 is threaded as at 45 for receiving a seal plug46. Within the outlet chamber 44 is an outlet valve 47 provided with anO-ring seal 48 which seals against a valve seat 49 in the chamber 44. Acoil spring 50 extending between the plug 46 and the valve 47 normallymaintains the valve 47 seated on the valve seat 49. Fluid entering theoutlet chamber 44 passes through a fluid passageway 51 and is dischargedthrough a discharge pipe 52 which is connected to a plug 53 threadedlymounted in a bore 54 in the valve block 20. The discharge pipe 52extends to a tank or fluid line (not shown) Where the metered fluid isbeing discharged.

Prior to the normal operation of the feed pump 10 when no liquid iscontained in the tank 11, the valve 40 will be in its open position asshown by FIGURE 5 with the float 36 resting on the valve plug 25. Toplace the feed pump 10 ready for normal operation, the liquid that is tobe fed into a fluid system is poured slowly into the tank 11. The liquidwill flow to the bottom of the tank 11 covering the bottom wall 28 untilthe liquid rises above the plug 25. The liquid will now flow down thefluid passageway 26 past the open valve 40 into the chamber 23; as thechamber 23 becomes filled, the liquid will flow out through the fluidpassageway 22 and 43 to displace all of the air therein until thechamber 23 and passageway 26 is filled of liquid. The tank 11 is thenfilled of the desired quantity of liquid. The float 36 will now rise inthe liquid contained in the tank 11 carrying with it the valve 40 tobring the valve 40 to its closed poistion as shown by FIGURES 3 and 4.

The motor 14 is now energized to cause the rotation of the cam plate 16on the end of the motor shaft 15,. which in turn causes a reciprocatingmovement of the piston 17. As the piston 17 moves in the direction awayfrom the pump block 20, as shown by FIGURE 5, a suction pressure iscreated in the chamber 23 cansing the valve 40 to slide downwardly to anopen position against the upward force of the buoyant float 36. Liquidin the tank 11 will now be in communication with the liquid in thepassageway 26. As the piston 17 arrives at its extreme right position,the suction pressure in the chamber 23 will cease and the valve 40 willcome to its closed position as shown by FIGURE 3, by

virtue of the upward buoyant force of the float 36 floating in theliquid in the tank 11.

Now the piston 17 will begin to slide in an inward direction or to theleft as viewed by FIGURE 4. During this movement of the piston 17, thefluid in the chamber 23 will be subjected to a compressive pressurethereby forcing the valve 47 to slide against the spring pressure 50 toits open position as shown by FIGURE 4. A portion of the liquid in thechamber 23 will be discharged through the outlet 43 into the chamber 44duct 51 and through the discharge line 52. The amount of liquid beingdischarged for each thrust of the piston 17 is determined by the volumedisplaced by the piston 17 at each movement to the left. The cycle isthen repeated to refill the chamber 23 with liquid on the outward orsuction stroke of the piston 17.

The feed pump will continue to discharge the liquid in accuratelymetered quantities as long as a certain level of liquid is maintained inthe tank 11. When there is not suflicientl liquid in the tank 11 tobuoyantly force the float upwardly, then the valve 40 will remain in anopen position as shown by FIGURE 5. When the valve 40 should be made toslide upwardly to its closed position at the commencement of thecompression stroke as shown by FIGURE 3, the upward buoyant force of theliquid in the tank on the float 36 will be lacking. The valve 40 willremain open and the liquid in the chamber 23 subjected to thecompressive pressure of the piston 17 will flow past the open valve 40and into the tank 11 while the outlet valve 47 remains closed by virtueof the coil spring pressure 50. Continued oscillation of the piston 17will cause the liquid to flow back and forth from the tank 11 to thechamber 23 and vice versa. None of this liquid will be discharged at theoutlet valve 47. Consequently, the prime cannot be lost as the chamber23 and passageways 22, 43 and 26 will be filled with liquid. As soon asliquid is poured into the tank 11, the float 36 will rise in the tank11. When the piston 17 is at the beginning of its. compression stroke,the valve 40 will be forced upwardly to its closed position by thebuoyant force of the floating float 36. Now, the compression pressureapplied against the liquid in the chamber 23 will force the outlet valve47 to its open position and discharge a metered quantity of the liquidvia the duct 43, chamber 44 and discharge line 52.

The feed pump 10 is especially adapted for metering minute quantities ofliquid chemicals and the like into large quantities of liquids. Anexample is the feeding of 1 to 2 drops of a wetting agent per second ineach five gallons of water during the rinse period of a dish washingmachine or adding minute quantities of fluorides and chlorine to largevolumes of water. Once in operating condition, the feed pump 10 will notlose its prime.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A feed pump comprising a container of liquid, valve supporting meansmounted below said container, said valve supporting means having a valvechamber and a liquid passageway connecting said container and said valvechamber, permitting the flow of liquid from said container to said.valve chamber, a float positioned in said container, a valve, positionedin said valve chamber and controlling the flow of liquid through saidliquid passageway, means connecting said valve and said float eflectedby the liquid in said container whereby upward movement .of said, floatcauses said valve to be .4 brought from an open to its closed position,pump means connected to said chamber, valve discharge means connected tosaid chamber, and resilient means mounted on said valve discharge meansyieldingly urging said discharge valve to a closed position. wherebyupon the depletion of the liquid in said container said float valvemoves downwardly to open said first named valve and dissipatetherethrough the pressure produced by said pump means while saiddischarge valve is maintained in a closed position and liquid is trappedin said chamber and said liquid passageway.

- 2. A feed pump comprising a tank for containing a liquid, a valveblock mounted below said tank, said valve block having a valve chamberand a liquid passageway connecting said valve chamber and said tank, afloat positioned in said tank, a valve positioned in said valve chambercontrolling the flow of liquid through said liquid passageway, meansconnecting said valve and said float whereby upon the floating of saidfloat in liquid in said tank said valve is brought from an open to itsclosed position, said valve block having a pump chamber, an outletchamber and ducts connecting both of said chambers with said valvechamber, a piston slidably mounted in said pump chamber, an outlet valvemounted in said outlet chamber for controlling the flow of liquid fromsaid valve chamber to said outlet, chamber and resilient meansyieldingly urging said outlet valve to a closed position whereby uponthe depletion of the liquid in said tank said float moves downwardly toopen said first named valve and dissipate therethrough the pressureproduced by said piston while said outlet valve is maintained in aclosed position and liquid is trapped in said valve chamber and saidliquid chamber.

3. A feed pump comprising a tank for containing a liquid, a valve blockmounted below said tank, plug means fastening said valve block to saidtank, said valve block having a valve chamber, said plug means having aliquid passageway connecting said valve chamber and said tank, a valveseat mounted at the lower end of said plug means, a valve positioned insaid valve chamber and seating on said valve seat for controlling theflow of liquid from said tank to said valve chamber, a float positionedin said tank, rod means extending through said liquid passageway andconnecting said float and said valve whereby upon the floating of saidfloat in liquid in said tank said valve is brought from an open to itsclosed position, said valve block having a pump chamber, an outletchamber and ducts connecting both of said chambers with said valvechamber, a piston slidably mounted in said pump chamber, an outlet valvemounted in said outlet chamber for controlling the flow of liquid fromsaid valve chamber to said outlet chamber and resilient means urgingsaid outlet valve to a closed position whereby upon the depletion of theliquid in said tank said float moves downwardly to open said first namedvalve and dissipate therethrough the pressure produced by said pistonwhile said outlet valve is maintained in a closed position and liquid istrapped in said valve chamber and said liquid chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,608,589 Engstrom Nov. 30, 1926 1,991,342 Ball Feb. 12, 1935 2,269,857Nielsen Jan. 13, 1942 2,734,667 Conklin Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS664,939 Germany Sept. 9, 1938

1. A FEED PUMP COMPRISING A CONTAINER OF LIQUID, VALVE SUPPORTING MEANSMOUNTED BELOW SAID CONTAINER, SAID VALVE SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING A VALVECHAMBER AND A LIQUID PASSAGEWAY CONNECTING SAID CONTAINER AND SAID VALVECHAMBER, PERMITTING THE FLOW OF LIQUID FROM SAID CONTAINER TO SAID VALVECHAMBER, A FLOAT POSITIONED IN SAID CONTAINER, A VALVE POSITIONED INSAID VALVE CHAMBER AND CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF LIQUID THROUGH SAIDLIQUID PASSAGEWAY, MEANS CONNECTING SAID VALVE AND SAID FLOAT EFFECTEDBY THE LIQUID IN SAID CONTAINER WHEREBY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FLOATCAUSES SAID VALVE TO BE BROUGHT FROM AN OPEN TO ITS CLOSED POSITION,PUMP MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CHAMBER, VALVE DISCHARGE MEANS CONNECTED TOSAID CHAMBER, AND RESILIENT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID VALVE DISCHARGE MEANSYIELDINGLY URGING SAID DISCHARGE VALVE TO A CLOSED POSITION WHEREBY UPONTHE DEPLETION OF THE LIQUID IN SAID CONTAINER SAID FLOAT VALVE MOVESDOWNWARDLY TO OPEN SAID FIRST NAMED VALVE AND DISSIPATE THERETHROUGH THEPRESSURE PRODUCED BY SAID PUMP MEANS WHILE SAID DISCHARGE VALVE ISMAINTAINED IN A CLOSED POSITION AND LIQUID IS TRAPPED IN SAID CHAMBERAND SAID LIQUID PASSAGEWAY.